Amusement devices: toys – Rolling or tumbling – Including means for causing erratic movement
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-28
2004-02-17
Ackun, Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Rolling or tumbling
Including means for causing erratic movement
C446S454000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06692333
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to toy vehicles and, more particularly, to remote control toy vehicles that flip over upon activation of a spring-loaded flipping mechanism.
A variety of toy vehicles are known which include a mechanism for upsetting or overturning the vehicle during normal operation. Toy manufacturers have found that vehicles that include a flipping mechanism are a more dynamic and entertaining toy and provide increased play value.
Known toy vehicles typically include a flipping member that extends from the toy vehicle and rotates to contact a supporting surface to overturn the vehicle. It is believed that a new toy vehicle design having an unusual flipping action would be desirable and provide enhanced entertainment value.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a toy vehicle is provided comprising a vehicle body having a front portion and a rear portion and a longitudinal axis extending through the front and rear portions. At least one rear wheel is coupled with the rear portion and located on the vehicle so as to at least partially support the rear portion. A first electric motor is drivingly coupled with the at least one rear wheel. At least one front wheel is coupled with the front portion and located on the vehicle so as to at least partially support the front portion. An electrically operated steering actuator is mounted on the front portion and drivingly coupled to the at least one front wheel to rotate the at least one wheel to steer the toy vehicle. A spring-loaded flipping mechanism rotatably couples the front and rear portions together so as to selectively flip the front portion of the vehicle body at least 360° with respect to the rear portion of the vehicle body about the longitudinal axis.
According to a further aspect of the invention a remote control device is provided for a toy vehicle in combination with a handheld remote controller having a multi-part housing, wherein at least two of the housing parts are pivotable with respect to each other to control an operation of the toy vehicle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1581688 (1926-04-01), Pehrson
patent: 1948744 (1934-02-01), Curtiss
patent: 2026181 (1935-12-01), Kennedy
patent: 2209457 (1940-07-01), Hare
patent: 2216497 (1940-10-01), McHenry
patent: 2398541 (1946-04-01), Leach
patent: 2784527 (1957-03-01), Sarff
patent: 2836254 (1958-05-01), Boehner
patent: 3406480 (1968-10-01), Joffe
patent: 3619940 (1971-11-01), Good et al.
patent: 3813812 (1974-06-01), Barlow et al.
patent: 4055021 (1977-10-01), Okamoto
patent: 4135328 (1979-01-01), Yamasaki
patent: 4156987 (1979-06-01), Lahr
patent: 4163341 (1979-08-01), Jones et al.
patent: 4187637 (1980-02-01), Nielsen
patent: 4218846 (1980-08-01), Lahr
patent: 4248012 (1981-02-01), Kirby et al.
patent: 4254577 (1981-03-01), Cheng
patent: 4327519 (1982-05-01), Cooper et al.
patent: 4363187 (1982-12-01), Shinohara
patent: 4382599 (1983-05-01), Tilbor
patent: 4385466 (1983-05-01), ReVelle
patent: 4415157 (1983-11-01), Lahr
patent: 4457101 (1984-07-01), Matsushiro
patent: 4463520 (1984-08-01), Crosman
patent: 4522607 (1985-06-01), Kilroy et al.
patent: 4545776 (1985-10-01), Law
patent: 4568306 (1986-02-01), Martin
patent: 4591346 (1986-05-01), Ikeda
patent: 4596534 (1986-06-01), Ishimoto
patent: 4655724 (1987-04-01), Law
patent: 4666420 (1987-05-01), Nagano
patent: 4691798 (1987-09-01), Engelbach
patent: 4822316 (1989-04-01), Shaffer et al.
patent: 4846758 (1989-07-01), Chou
patent: 4892502 (1990-01-01), Hesse
patent: 4894042 (1990-01-01), Kamikawa
patent: 4902271 (1990-02-01), Yoneda
patent: 5019009 (1991-05-01), Chao-Chin et al.
patent: 5078641 (1992-01-01), Chen
patent: 5100368 (1992-03-01), Chien
patent: 5240451 (1993-08-01), Clark, Jr.
patent: 5259808 (1993-11-01), Garr
patent: 5273480 (1993-12-01), Suto
patent: 5312288 (1994-05-01), Williams
patent: 5334077 (1994-08-01), Bailey
patent: 5449311 (1995-09-01), Williams
patent: 5609510 (1997-03-01), Stubenfoll et al.
patent: 5709583 (1998-01-01), Suto et al.
patent: 5727986 (1998-03-01), Stubenfoll et al.
patent: 5842907 (1998-12-01), Niimura et al.
patent: 5882241 (1999-03-01), Mullaney et al.
patent: 6039626 (2000-03-01), Gerold et al.
patent: 6106362 (2000-08-01), Keller et al.
patent: 6394876 (2002-05-01), Ishimoto
patent: 2001/0004578 (2001-06-01), Jaffe
patent: 879 071 (1953-06-01), None
patent: 3240712 (1984-05-01), None
patent: 0 694 323 (1996-01-01), None
patent: 472946 (1937-10-01), None
patent: 967429 (1964-08-01), None
patent: 1 278 082 (1972-06-01), None
patent: 2 087 739 (1982-06-01), None
patent: 2 130 904 (1984-06-01), None
patent: 2 139 104 (1984-11-01), None
patent: 2 215 626 (1989-09-01), None
patent: 2 227 679 (1990-08-01), None
Eric Schine; “Mattel's Wild Race To Market”, Business Week (magazine), Feb. 21, 1994, pp. 62-63, U.S.A.
Discoe Justin M.
Helmlinger David V.
Kislevitz Adam L.
Kislevitz Androc L.
Kislevitz Noah L.
Ackun Jacob K.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld & LLP
Francis Faye
The Obb, LLC
LandOfFree
Toy vehicle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Toy vehicle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Toy vehicle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3348711